"Hi, Leafpaw."

Leafpaw turned at her father's voice, blinking the sleep from her eyes. Firestar was looking at her from where he was tangled with Sandstorm. "What are you doing up?"

"It's morning," She responded. Firestar looked puzzled by the response before he blinked, glancing up.

"So, it is." He answered.

"Did you sleep?" She asked. He had been refusing any sleep aid since they entered the mountains. Leafpaw knew both her parents were losing sleep over this. Frustration gripped her as he shrugged.

Sandstorm's voice came, too quiet for Leafpaw to hear. She pressed her paw against her mate's side and he rose. The leader padded over to Leafpaw, licking her ear.

"Best to let your mother sleep for a bit more," He mewed. "I'm going to go wake Tornear, we'll be leaving soon."

"Yes, Firestar." Both cats stepped away.

Feathertail watched the leaders talk. Her gaze was locked onto Leopardstar.

Seeing her was worse than seeing him.

She leaned her head against Mistyfoot. The older she-cat licked her ear. Feathertail knew she was watching as well.

"Has she tried to talk to you?" Mistyfoot glanced at Feathertail as she spoke.

"No." Feathertail snorted, something between relief and bitterness rose in her. Of course, she had not.

"Do you still forgive her?" Feathertail knew she had lied that day, so many seasons ago now.

Mistyfoot turned to Feathertail as Stormfur raised his head, looking at them from over Brambleheart's back. If the other tom had heard, he chose not to respond.

"She's stuck," Mistyfoot finally answered. "Her actions are her own but she's stuck – we all are." Feathertail nodded.

Stormfur gave them a puzzled look.

"Why have you been doing that?" He asked. "Being separated like that seems impractical." Brambleheart shrugged.

"It's what the leaders want." Squirrelpaw nodded.

"Yeah, but now we can at least be more spread out," She pointed out. Crowpaw glanced at Tawnyclaw as she rose to her paws.

"Let's get back out, it's almost time to leave," She looked at Crowpaw. "You could go further back into TigerClan, Squirrelpaw can go ahead, and Stormfur and Feathertail could take in between?" Crowpaw's tail twitched anxiously at the thought.

Because they had been sticking to the cliffs, he and Squirrelpaw had ended up walking together in between the Clans. He was hoping he could figure out a way to get to Leafpaw through Squirrelpaw. However, he was not about to deny Tawnyclaw. The apprentice dipped his head.

"Okay," Feathertail meowed. "We can do that." She rose, the others following her lead. As they stepped away, Tawnyclaw touched her tail to Crowpaw's back. He looked up at her, surprised.

"You need to relax," Her voice was low. "Being scared isn't going to help you." Crowpaw shakily nodded, taking a deep breath.

How much did she know? He wondered, of what Tigerstar had asked him to do. Crowpaw was grateful – this was generous of the leader! But he also knew that Tigerstar was not a patient cat.

Crowpaw took a deep breath, trying to settle his nerves as Tawnyclaw stepped away. He could figure this out.

The going was slow. Crowpaw kept his head down.

"Look." Crowpaw turned as a tortoiseshell hissed. His eyes widened at the sight before them.

A number of birds were circling overhead. "We should get off of here," The she-cat continued. "We can't defend ourselves."

"Fernshade, we're not allowed to go into the valleys," Another warrior responded, her tail twitching. Fernshade looked at the gray she-cat, looking ready to protest. Crowpaw spoke up.

"This is what we did before – it's too dangerous to go into the valleys." Attention went to him and Crowpaw stiffened, lowering his head.

"This is much safer than we would be else wise." None of the warriors around him seemed pleased by this answer.

They came to a flattened space. The warriors were beginning to spread out as it opened. Crowpaw looked across the plateau, his tail twitching. He slipped cautiously past Willowtail as he made his way to the edge of the crowd.

He froze as yowls began to rise. Crowpaw turned, eyes widening at the sight of an eagle swooping down. Cats began to scatter. Crowpaw saw Leopardstar raise her tail, calling out.

"Be ready to fight!" Crowpaw's gaze went to the eagle again. He let out a breath as he realized it was heading toward the front. Yowls arose from ahead.

The eagle dove into the crowd and more screams arose.

Crowpaw turned as a Fernshade bumped into him, backing away. His eyes widened as he saw another coming down. Leopardstar let out another yowl as it made its mark, "Get it!" The nearest warriors descended on the creature.

Its wings continued to flap as it was pulled off a young gray tom. Crowpaw's fur rose as he saw a large scrap down his side. Leopardstar approached, her tail puffed up. Tawnyclaw was racing over.

"Wait – kill it!" Attention was pulled away from the warriors as Squirrelpaw came bounding back, her dark ginger tail held high. "We just killed the other one – it's prey!"

Leopardstar turned to Tawnyclaw, who spoke quickly to her leader. Leopardstar turned to the pinned bird. There was a shift. Crowpaw let out a breath as its wings stopped flapping.

"We need to find someplace safe," Leopardstar's voice was tense. "We're attracting every eagle and hawk in the mountains, for StarClan's sake." Feathertail gritted her teeth. It took everything in her not to speak.

"How far are we from the colony?" Firestar looked to Feathertail and Stormfur. "We could possibly stay there for a night – it might be enough to get them to lose interest." Stormfur's ears went back as the littermates exchanged a look.

"I don't know if they would appreciate that," Feathertail began. Tigerstar scoffed, interrupting her.

"Clan cats took care of their problem," he said. "They are obliged." Tawnyclaw sat next to him. It was sunset now. Feathertail had no clue where Crowpaw was and Leopardstar still would not look at her or Stormfur.

Oh, so now we're Clan cats? Her ears flattened as anger rose in her and she opened her mouth to respond. Stormfur touched her flank with his tail.

"What she means is, I think we were the first cats they've met. At least, for seasons." He gestured back at the warriors, "This is a lot more than six cats stumbling across them."

"The cave is not that big either," Brambleheart spoke up, his tail wrapped around his paws. "There are not a lot of them – maybe a small Clan worth? I don't know if it would fit everyone."

"They owe us," Tigerstar repeated. Squirrelpaw gave the leader a look.

"How do they owe us anything?" She asked. "They helped Crowpaw and Feathertail! What else could we expect them to do?"

"We are at their mercy," Firestar spoke quickly, drawing attention away from Squirrelpaw. He looked at the journeying cats. "The valley they live in – it's protected from predators?" Tawnyclaw nodded.

"There's tree cover and the walls are steep," She meowed. "It's safer than other valleys – or, up here."

"Then we ask if we can stay in their valley for a night." Leopardstar looked at the other TigerClan leader, "We will make do if they refuse." Tigerstar shrugged.

"They're rogues, I suppose there's no honor to be expected." Anger rose in Feathertail, her ears flattening. Firestar spoke, his voice low.

"They are not Clan cats," his green gaze was focused on the TigerClan leader, a slight growl had come to his voice. "We are at their mercy." He rose to his paws, his tail lashing. "We'll start again in the morning. This conversation is done." Firestar flicked his tail at his warriors as he started away. Looks were exchanged as they followed.

As they got back to their Clanmates, cats looked at them, curiously. Firestar raised his voice, "We are going to see if the colony will let us stay in their valley for a night." Murmurs rose from the Clan.

"And what if they don't?" Clovertail asked, her tail twitching.

"We'll figure it out," The leader's voice was tense. "Three guards are to be stationed tonight," He looked at Tornear, who dipped his head. Firestar continued, "And apprentices are to stay with warriors until we get these eagles dealt with." Firestar turned; his head low as he walked away. Brambleheart followed after their leader.

Feathertail glanced back over her shoulder at the TigerClan warriors. Stormfur brushed against her.

"They are all so –" Feathertail cut herself off, cursing.

"It's mostly him," Stormfur pointed out. Feathertail glanced at him.

"Do you think Leopardstar isn't to blame?" She knew what he thought of Tawnyclaw. Stormfur shook his head.

"I didn't say that."

"Stormfur's right," Squirrelpaw piped up. "It is mostly Tigerstar."

Feathertail looked at her, her tail moving from side to side.

"That doesn't make either of them guiltless."

"He still won't take it?" Sandstorm shook her head. Barkface sighed.

"He's convinced something is going to happen in the night," She explained. "If he's gotten any sleep since we entered the mountains, it hasn't been purposeful." Leafpaw glanced over to where Firestar was lying, his tail lashing.

"What going to happen if he keeps not sleeping?" Tornear asked. Barkface gritted his teeth.

"Nothing good," the medicine cat responded. "He could start hallucinating." The deputy's ears went back.

"And we can't force him either," He muttered. "Not here – it wouldn't look good to the Clan without even considering TigerClan's view."

"I could try." Attention went to Brambleheart as he spoke. Leafpaw gave him a puzzled look. They had all been trying, how could this go differently? He looked at Sandstorm.

"You left the poppy seeds with him, correct?" He rose to his paws.

"Brambleheart," Barkface began but the tabby was already walking away.

"Let him go," Sandstorm meowed, watching after. "He might have a chance."

"There hasn't been a ruckus yet," Tornear muttered, turning his attention to the warriors. "That's good." Leafpaw followed his gaze.

Brambleheart had laid next to Firestar. His head was on the ground as he spoke to their leader. Firestar was staring at the warrior as they began to converse. Leafpaw's eyes widened as eventually Firestar turned, lapping up the poppy seeds in front of him.

Sandstorm rose, heading over as Tornear sighed. "Well, that's solved for tonight," He remarked.

"Why didn't we ask him to do that sooner?" Leafpaw asked. The toms looked at her. Her mentor sighed.

"That was the good response."

"Hey." Squirrelpaw looked up at Crowpaw, surprised. Leafpaw gave him a puzzled look as he set the hunk of eagle he had down. "Do you… want to share?"

His tail twitched anxiously. Crowpaw knew this was strange but he did not know what else to do. Others had already settled to eat, no one was paying attention to them. He hoped he would not get in trouble for this – he was doing it on Tigerstar's orders!

Squirrelpaw eyed him before she nodded. "Sure." Leafpaw shot her a look. "We're allowed to talk to the TigerClan cats," Squirrelpaw pointed out. "And we know Crowpaw."

"Okay," Leafpaw hesitantly agreed. Crowpaw's shoulders relaxed as they settled down. It was sunset again and they had caught another eagle during the day. They had yet to reach the colony. If Crowpaw remembered correctly, they would likely reach it the next day.

"How's TigerClan, Crowpaw?" Squirrelpaw gave him a curious look. It took everything in Crowpaw to stop him from bristling. Why was she asking him that?

"Fine," He replied, swallowing. "We're doing about as good as we can be." Even though they had killed a few, the situation around the eagles was frightening the Clan. There was a strange glint in the apprentice's eyes but she nodded.

"That's good." Crowpaw looked at Squirrelpaw, puzzled but the she-cat continued before taking a bite, "What do you think the territories are going to look like?" Crowpaw shrugged as Leafpaw looked at her sister.

"Well, it'll be different," She meowed. "Firestar and Leopardstar agreed that we'd get any moors – it's certainly going to be different than the gorge." Crowpaw kept his fur flat.

Squirrelpaw nodded, looking at Crowpaw expectantly. He shrugged.

"I don't know. There better not be any Twolegs around," He muttered, resting his head down.

"I don't know if we'd ever be able to get away from them completely," Leafpaw meowed. She was still eying him a bit but she seemed to be relaxing. That was good. "Unless we end up staying up here."

"Maybe we will," Crowpaw replied. "End up in different valleys or something." He did not want to stay in the mountains. They had seen some of what lay beyond, there had to be something.

"Mountains would be an intense border," Squirrelpaw said, "A lot more effective than a scent marker." Crowpaw eyed her.

"A mountain would stop your cats?" Squirrelpaw's ears went back.

"No," She scoffed, sticking her muzzle toward him. "They haven't stopped us yet, now, have they?"

"We can certainly climb rocks," Leafpaw agreed. Crowpaw looked at the young tabby.

"The moors are rocky," he commented. "And hilly – of course, not as much as here but the terrain isn't as flat as you're used to in the forests. Maybe this could be practice for later." He paused before continuing, "Get you prepared for what is to come." That was better than he was going to say. The littermates were looking at him. Squirrelpaw's head was tilted slightly.

"Maybe," Leafpaw mewed.

Brambleheart's tail rose as he padded ahead. They would be reaching the colony today.

He looked back at Firestar and Tigerstar. The WindClan leader's gaze was focused on his warrior. This whole trip had been strange.

Tigerstar was surprisingly cooperative while Firestar was getting increasingly on edge. Even getting him to sleep the night prior had not helped. Not that Brambleheart could blame him.

The day wore on. The warrior slowed in his step as he recognized the river. He looked back again, tail twitching.

They were up where the wolf had chased them last time. There was no sign of it so far but eyes were being kept on the space around them as much as they were on the sky.

"We should send a patrol ahead," Brambleheart meowed as the leaders caught up to him. "The prophecy cats, preferably since they know us." Familiar faces might settle the colony's reaction to this ask. Firestar nodded, opening his mouth.

"No." Attention went to Tigerstar. "Us three – and Tawnyclaw." He looked back, he had to be speaking to Onewhisker because the warrior looked to his leader. Firestar slowly nodded; his ears flattened. Brambleheart gritted his teeth as the warrior turned. Well, at least he and Tawnyclaw would be there.

Tawnyclaw made her way up, as did Leopardstar and Tornear. Words passed quickly and they headed out. Brambleheart fell back, staying at his leader's side as Tawnyclaw took the lead down the slope. He looked ahead, surprised as he caught sight of cats outside before he shook it off. Feathertail and Stormfur had talked about this before. It made sense that it was Sharptooth that was keeping them in.

Oak pushed herself off the stone, heading quickly toward the waterfall. Blizzard rose to meet them. "What are you doing here?" He demanded. Tawnyclaw began to speak as Firestar stepped up to the TigerClan warriors' side.

Brambleheart looked past them as Oak returned, Fisher and Bear following after. Both cats looked alarmed. "What is this?" The colony leader demanded.

Firestar dipped his head to the she-cat as he began to speak. Brambleheart remained silent as the conversation continued. He could not see half of it, anyway.

"How many of there are you?" There was a pause before he and Fisher exchanged a look.

"Let us go up, then I will decide." Fisher looked at the two warriors. Brambleheart dipped his head as Tawnyclaw did. The colony leader turned, speaking quickly to Bear before leaving him behind as they headed back up the ridge.

Tawnyclaw glanced at Brambleheart, who shrugged. Fisher did not look pleased. It was getting late. Hopefully, they would let them stay the night.

Brambleheart raised his head as he saw that Stormfur and Feathertail had come up to the front. The she-cat pushed herself up from where she had laid at Fisher's approach.

Fisher looked at the littermates before regarding the Clans, her ears were flattened. She turned back to Firestar and Tigerstar. "For tonight, your Clans can stay in the valley," She meowed. Tigerstar dipped his head as Firestar meowed his thanks. Fisher continued.

"There is a grove further down the river –" Firestar suddenly pushed against Brambleheart's side. He felt him hiss. Brambleheart looked at him, alarmed.

Firestar's back was arched as he glared at Tigerstar, growling. What had happened? What did Brambleheart miss? The TigerClan leader's eyes were round, he looked taken aback.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he said. Everyone was looking at them. Barkface had stepped to the front but had not approached. Brambleheart knew that Firestar was saying something to the other leader.

"Firestar," Brambleheart meowed, urgently. Firestar looked at Brambleheart, relaxing somewhat at the sight of him. The warrior glanced at Fisher, had they just lost their place here?

The black and white cat looked surprised. Her face hardened. "You must leave in the morning."

Relief overcame Brambleheart as he nudged his leader toward Barkface. Tornear had stepped up quickly, Firestar was beginning to shake.

Brambleheart stopped with Stormfur and Feathertail as Firestar was passed off. "What did he do?" Brambleheart's voice was hushed. Feathertail shook her head.

"I don't know," She looked back to Tigerstar.

"I saw his tail move," Stormfur put in. "Nothing else." Brambleheart gritted his teeth, looking back over his shoulder.

Tornear, Leopardstar, and Tigerstar were talking with the colony leader. Tawnyclaw gave them an alarmed look. Brambleheart did not know how to respond.